WE ARE LAYING THE ADOBE FOR THE COURTYARD WALL WITH CEMENT MORTAR. NOT BECAUSE WE RAN OUT OF DIRT, BUT WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME TO GET THIS WALL COMPLETED IN TIME FOR THE COLOR COAT OF STUCCO. THE CEMENT MORTAR WILL DRY OUT MUCH FASTER THAN THE

MUD WHICH MEANS WE CAN WORK ON IT NON STOP.

HERIBERTO IS REAL EXCITED ABOUT THAT.

NOW FOR THE ADOBE 101 PART.

NOTHING STICKS TO MUD, EXCEPT MUD ( AND SHOES...JUST ASK MY WIFE ).

SO WHEN YOU LAY AN ADOBE WALL USING CEMENT MORTAR, YOU HAVE A BUNCH OF ADOBES SURROUNDED BY SQUARES OF MORTAR.

WHICH ISN'T ALL THAT BAD. IT INCREASES THE LOAD BEARING OF THE WALL, AND IF YOU LAY A STEEL LADDER REINFORCING IN THE WET MORTAR, IT CAN ADD TO THE OVERALL STRENGTH OF THE WALL.

WE HAVE BUILT HOUSES USING MORTAR TO LAY ALL THE ADOBE WHEN IT'S TOO COLD FOR THE MUD TO DRY OUT. BUT, ALL THINGS CONSIDERED,